Winding watches



T. NOEL.-

Winding Watches.

Patenied Dec. 2. 1851.

N. PETERS. Phuwhthngnphnr. Washington. n. cy

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE NOEL, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

WINDING wercrrns.

Specification of Letters To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, THEODORE NOEL, of Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and Improved Mode of Winding up the Springs and Setting the Hands of \Vatches lVit-hout the use of the Ordinary \Vatch-Key; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in providing the watch with a machine key which is attached to the winding-up arbor, and another machine key for setting the hands, which is attached to the center or cannon arbor of such watches as are designed to be set from the back; and may also be attached to the cannon pinion or minute hand when the watch is made to be set from the face side.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

I construct my watch movement on any of the known plans, preferring that sort however, which has the winding and handsetting arbors both on the back.

I provide the upper plate or plates of the movement with two boxes similar to a main spring box with the head out; for convenience the two boxes may be made together out of a solid piece as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings; the largest box (A) is for the Winding key, and is in diameter of an inch inside (more or less according to the size of the watch,) the smaller box (13) is for the hand-setting key, and is in diameter about of an inch inside. These boxes should be at least of an inch deep, or as deep as the space will admit between their bottoms and the inside of the cap or watch case; the box is fastened down to the movement by screws (Fig. 1, O C,) so that the winding and setting arbors will come up in the centers of their respective boxes, holes being made for that purpose (Fig. 1). I then make of any suitable metal, a socket about of an inch in diameter with a. square hole through the center to fit tight on the Winding arbor (Fig. 2 This socket may be nearly fiat on the top and bottom, and as thick as the depth of the key-box, allowing space enough under itto clear the bottom and not touch when turning. The first part of the key (Fig. 2 F) is formed to span the Patent No. 8,567, dated December 2, 1851.

socket, and is attached thereto by pivots which go through joint-wise or holes at the ends of the first part (Fig. 3 I I) and pass through the sides of the socket into the square hole. These pivots must be riveted or otherwise secured in their places. I thus attach the first part of the key to the socket allowing it to turn freely but spring-tight. The second part of the key is formed so as to connect with the first part by a hinge, (Fig. 2 IL) so that when opened or raised perpendicular it forms the upper section or handle of the key, and is ready to use in winding; (Fig. 2,) and when folded up or closed, the second section takes in the first, and the first section takes in the socketall nearly filling the box, (Fig. 4, L.) This key may be formed so that one section will fold on without inclosing the other, but the first described plan is adopted for economy in the thickness of watches, and the latter where the depth of the box may be ample, and the diameter necessarily limited.

The key for setting the hands is a socket fitting tight 0n the hand-setting arbor, similar to that of a common minute hand, having on one side a stout piece projecting horizontally two thirds of the space from center to the edge of its box inside; (Fig.3 T.) On the end of this piece is a hinge joint (of the smallest hollow wire) to which the second part of this key is connected by a joint forming a hinge, (Fig. 3, T,) which is made to stop when opened a few degrees past the right angle, (Fig. 2, U.) The end of this piece is so formed as when thus opened to present a small handle perpendicular to the movement of the watch. By turning this handle with the end of the finger the watch hands are moved either back or forward as required. (See Fig. 3, X.) The handle of this key then folds down' on the first part and over the top of the arbor, so as to revolve in its box without touching, (Fig. 4, V.) The cap, or inside case of the watch must be cut out so as to let the keys open and close freely through it; and the edge of the space so cut out must fit down close to the edge of the box or boxes, so as to keep out dust from the inner works.

To apply this key to full plate lever watches which are to be set on the face side, only one box is required. In this case one section of the key folds on without inclosing the other to save space in the diameter of the box. This variation of the machine key must be adapted to its socket so as to keep a level position, and not touch its box when closed. These machine keys can be attached to man of the watches now in use on the princip e herein described, which can be slightly varied according to circumstances; but some advantage may be gained by constructing the movements with a view to their application, preferring those which both wind and set on the back.

For watches which are to be set on the face side, the hand-setting key herein described may be attached to the minute hand or cannon pinion by shaping it to suit its situation, either lain or with such ornament as the taste 0 the workman may suggest.

THEODORE NOEL.

Witnesses:

HUME F. HILL, V. B. DALRYMPLE. 

